New Rules for Service Animals and the ADA

New Rules for Service Animals and the ADA

The Department of Justice is muddying the waters of the disabled and the use of service animals in the new definitions for what a service animal must be. In the past people have used animals of all types. Everything from a gerbil to a donkey for a wide range of disabilities including mobility, psychiatric, seizure alert, diabetic and hearing dogs.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

New Service Animal definition injures the disabled

Our current definition for service animal under the ADA is, "Service animal means any guide dog, signal dog, *or other animal* individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items."

The new definition is, "Service animal means any *dog* that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition."
I, for one, agree with the definition that service animals should just be DOGS. I would love to have your thoughts on the subject as I am sure there are many opinions out there.

I welcome your comments and concerns. Please comment below.

Robert Forto | Team Ineka | Alaska Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works
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Dr. Robert Forto the training director for Dog Works Training Centers, is a musher training for his first Iditarod under the Team Ineka banner and the host of the popular radio shows, Mush! You Huskies and The Dog Doctor Radio Show

Every Dog Has Its Day-Part 4

Every Dog Has Its Day- Part 4

“Every dog has its day dog, when the big dog throws him a bone. One moment in the sunshine, when your ducks line up in a row.” – Toby Keith

Toby has been very busy. He has been training with several other dogs in group classes and has gone on several field trips with his friend Alaric.

Toby and his handler are continuing to work together weekly and our progressing through their training very well. They are fast becoming a great team. Tomorrow Toby and his handler will be featured in the Denver Post YourHub.com and featured as a story about persevering, strength, and courage.

You can read the story here: Coping with a Little Canine Help

As you might recall when I met Toby his handler had rescued him from the Denver Dumb Friends League and do to her illness returned him just a month later on the same day I was too meet them. I was able to get her to go back and get Toby and upon my evaluation I discovered that temperamentally he was one of the soundest puppies I’d ever tested, so his training began immediately. Toby has been in training now for 5 weeks and has at least 7 weeks of intensive training to do with me at Denver Dog Works before he is sent to be with his handler permanently. When this occurs Toby and Shauna will begin their Canine Good Citizen Training and public training.

In the upcoming weeks Toby will be visiting several new places; the mall, grocery store, hardware store, park and vet office. Toby is also in Canine Good Citizen classes and is doing quite well being that he is the youngest in the class.
As a psychiatric service dog Toby will be expected to comfort, provide a safe environment, retrieve medications, and provide his handler with unconditional love and support in times of need. Toby is already performing his duties as a service dog and will continue to perfect his job over the next several months.

If you would like to help Shauna with the costs of training please contact us at Denver Dog Works

Tags: Canine Training Denver | Dog Training Denver | Michele Forto | Psychiatric Service Dogs
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Michele Forto is the Denver Dog Training Examiner, a certified canine trainer at Denver Dog Works and the co-host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show

Every Dog Has Its Day

Every Dog Has It’s Day

“Every dog has its day dog, when the big dog throws him a bone. One moment in the sunshine, when your ducks line up in a row.” – Toby Keith –

The lyric quoted above fits my next story so fitting its eerie. I am currently training a German Shepherd puppy named Toby.
I received an inquiry about a week ago. I heard desperation on the other end of the line and began to stop what I was doing to listen more attentively. A mother, was looking for help for her adult daughter, who was in need of emotional support, comfort, and stability. “My daughter adopted a puppy about 30 days ago and we found a trainer but she doesn’t certify service dogs, do you do that?”

We spoke for about thirty minutes and agreed to meet so I could evaluate little Toby to be sure he had the right temperament and stamina to go through the training to possibly become a psychiatric service dog.

The morning we were due to meet I received another phone call from the Mother, she was frantic and in tears. Her daughter had a breakdown and decided Toby was too much responsibility for herself and took him back to the Denver Dumb Friends League the night before.

After explaining to the Mother, what my plans were and how I can help, she gave her daughter a call and convinced her to call me. Meanwhile, the Mother followed my advice and contacted the Denver Dumb Friends League and explained the situation and asked that Toby be held. Her daughter did contact me and once I explained that Toby would be staying with me for 12 weeks and doing training through the most difficult times of puppyhood, she agreed to go get Toby and meet with me as scheduled.
They arrived for their appointment, Mother, Daughter, and Toby. I observed body language, interactions, obedience for a 12 week old puppy, and did my standard temperament test. Toby is one of the most stable balanced puppies I’ve ever observed. He has the “gift”. This first week he has proven that he is up for the task. He’s been on a field trip daily since his arrival, is understanding that wearing his training vest means he must act responsibly in his surroundings and when it’s off he understands that he can be a “dog” but still has to behave with dignity and have manners.

Toby has been enrolled into Denver Dog Works psychiatric service dog program, he will undergo 12 weeks of intensive training with my staff and I. Toby will then return home to his handler and participate in weekly training sessions for the next 12 weeks and then begin his public access training and polishing his service commands. Toby will be learning approximately 60 verbal commands of which 20 commands will have had signals.

Follow Toby through his training program, I will be writing this article weekly giving you updates.

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Michele is Denvers Dog Training Examiner, a certified canine trainer at Denver Dog Works and the co-host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show.

The Adventures of Alaric Part 2

The Adventures of Alaric Part 2
By Michele Forto

Another week has passed and Alaric is progressing through his training nicely. We have designed his training program and he is in full enrollment in advanced obedience, canine good citizen and trust building.

Alaric had a good visit with his handler and is getting more used to her home and the surroundings. Due to Alaric having some fear anxiety with new situations we will continue to have short home visits until his full placement in 4 months.
It has also been noted that Alaric has fear around black dogs; this is being addressed in his daily training and by Alaric partaking in group classes on Saturdays.

Alaric’s handler was given her first set of obedience homework this week as well and she was able to complete all of the tasks with Alaric who is beginning to focus more on her and less on me. This is great news since I have been involved in his life entirely for 2 years.

Alaric participated in canine good citizen this week and was handled by Junior Trainer: Nicole Forto reportedly: Canine Good Citizen encompasses ten items that each dog must pass and be able to demonstrate in a public setting establishing that dog as a good citizen in public. Alaric did well on most of the tasks he does need work on supervised separation and we need to build distance for him to perform his commands. He loves staying very close to us which is preferred for his psychiatric service work but is not preferred when working on obedience commands.

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Michele Forto is Denvers Dog Training Examiner and the business manager for Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Canine Behavior Consultations

Canine Behavior Consultation
By Michele Forto

At Denver Dog Works we are sought after throughout the country as the preeminent expert for canine aggression cases. With that said we also do things a bit differently than most dog trainers for basic obedience. Canine Behavior Modification Sessions are NOT Obedience Sessions. We also charge differently than a dog trainer. Typically dog trainers charge per session or in a block of sessions (ie. eight weeks for $500.00, etc.) A behavioral consultation is much different. We charge by the hour and we require a retainer. The reason we do this is simple: there is a tremendous amount of work involved behind the scenes and with the client in person. We charge just like an attorney would charge you, increments of six minutes. Remember you are hiring an expert not just a dog trainer that trains dogs for fun. Canine Aggression is serious business and you need an expert to help you in this difficult time.

Canine Behavior Consultation

A Canine Behavior Consultation is an in-depth scientific observation of a dog displaying unwanted or unexplained behavior. Dr. Robert Forto, Ph.D. of Denver Dog Works is not only the training director with nearly twenty years of experience in training dogs, but also Denver’s foremost expert on aggression.

A Canine Behavior Consultation often begins unfortunately with an incident where your dog has bitten someone. Very few times, has Dr. Forto been contacted prior to the bite occurring. Usually he is contacted during an owner’s dog being quarantined by the local animal control.

When you contact Dr. Forto regarding canine aggression or behavior modification for your dog he or his staff will ask you a series of questions determining whether or not you are in need of a behaviorist or just a qualified trainer with specific behavior background such as separation anxiety.
When hiring an expert be prepared to pay a retainer and to be billed in hourly increments monthly for their services. This is how Dr. Forto has established his business and reputation. He values your concerns and expects you to value his time and his expertise.
I asked Dr. Forto, what happens during a Behavior Evaluation/Canine Behavior Consultation and this is what he said.
What happens during an Behavioral Evaluation?
 
You will be interviewed and asked questions regarding your dog and the problems you are concerned with:
Your dog’s daily routine and history with you
What your relationship with your dog is like
How your dog behaves in different situations
A description of the problem
When, where and how often the problem happens
What you have done to work with your dog’s behavior
 
We will observe your dog and see how he/she behaves
We do want to see how your dog reacts to us and get a sense of his temperament
We do want to see how your dog reacts to you and get a sense of his temperament
Observing the problem behavior may not be possible, desirable or needed

We will use this information to analyze your dog's problem
Why the problem developed
What’s now motivating the behavior
What needs to be done to change the behavior
 
We will develop and write down a custom behavior modification plan for you
The plan may include changes to your dog’s environment and/or diet
The plan may require structured “training sessions” to bring out the desired behavior
The plan may require changes in how you react to your dog’s behavior
The plan will include tips and remedies
 
We will follow-up with you during the scheduled "training sessions" either in-home or office visits for the number listed on your behavior modification plan:
Answer your questions and observe the dog and his reactions
Make sure you are on the right track
“Fine tune” your custom plan
If your dog is participating in our board and train program you will receive weekly progress reports for the duration of his stay.
 
And this is just the beginning! According to Dr. Forto, once he receives the initial evaluation from his staff, he then corresponds immediately with the client who has now received a 13-page questionnaire asking specific questions pertaining to their dog’s history. He begins developing a treatment plan and schedules the first visit. Dr. Forto is working with you from the moment he receives your case file and he continues to be available via email, phone, and in person. Behavior modification does not get fixed at the snap of a finger, modifying a dogs behavior can take months just as modifying your behavior can take months. A typical behavior case can last three to nine months. Although, you can see results after just one hour, modifying unwanted behavior and replacing it with wanted behavior takes time. An aggressive dog must have his behavior managed and the treatment plan that Dr. Forto devises for you must be followed correctly in order for the modification to be successful. Once the treatment plan has been developed Dr. Forto then visits you a few times to check on your progress and then develops a maintenance plan. Aggression is never cured it is managed.

Dr. Forto is available for behavior modification, seminars, and workshops addressing aggression (and other canine behavior problems). If you are interested in learning more about aggression or if your dog is in need of behavior modification you can reach Dr. Forto at through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Tags: Expert in Canine Aggression | Nationwide Caine Aggression Training | Denver Dog Training Examiner | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works
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Michele Forto is Denvers Dog Training Examiner and the business manager of Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Impulsive Dog Training

Impulsive Dog Training
By Michele Forto

Not only am I a writer for the Denver Dog Training Examiner, I am also a local trainer. Recently, I have been noticing an increase in what I like to call Impulsive Dog Training. Impulsive Dog Training means; a person with good intentions to do the right thing for their dog who makes a quick decision only to change their mind and never show up for training.
In other words, I evaluate and interview several people a week who are interested in dog training. Some are shopping around (which I recommend) but others are just coming by to fill that guilty void of not training their dog and by signing up they are letting themselves off the hook.

Training is a commitment to the well-being, mental and physical health of your dog. Signing up with a trainer and then not following through with your commitment wastes the time of the trainer who just built a training plan for you and your goals but it also wastes the time of your pet.

When you pick up your dog or puppy for the first time you have all kinds of ideas as to how you’d like your dog/puppy to turn out. Hopefully you didn’t pick out your puppy or rescued dog on an impulse either, this will only exemplify your guilt. If you aren’t ready for a 10 to 15 year commitment to a pet then do not get one. Proper veterinarian care and training are both required to give your dog the best overall health and valuable life.

When shopping for a trainer I recommend visiting pet shows and expo’s like the Denver Dumb Friends League Furry Scurry or the MaxFund Lucky Mutt Strut. Both of these organizations put on fundraiser run/walks with your pet. They invite several pet vendors including trainers. What better way to visit a handful of trainers all in one morning. Each and every one of them will give you a different perspective and with Denver having over 200 dog trainers to choose from you’re sure to find one that fits your goals, your style and your budget.

What do you think about impulsive dog training? Let us know by commenting below or sending live@dogdoctorradio.com

Tags: Denver Dog Training Examiner | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works
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Michele Forto is Denvers Dog Training Examiner and the business manager of Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Influential People in the Development of Learning Theory Part 3

Influential People in the Development of Learning Theory Part III

By Robert Forto, PhD

Skinner, Keller, and Schoenfeld

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) continued the work that Thorndike started. He was the leading advocate of a more modern version of Thorndike’s Law of Effect, which states, “The frequency of a behavior increases or decreases according to the result it [the behavior] produces.”

When Skinner was pursuing his doctorate at Harvard University he discovered that he could methodically change the behavior of lab rats by rewarding them with food. This study proceeded in the following stages:

“First, the rat was rewarded simply for facing the correct end of the cage. Next, the rat was rewarded only when it stood next to the lever. Later stages delayed the reward until the rat touched the lever with its body. Eventually the rat learned it had to press the lever to receive a pellet of food.”

Skinner’s viewpoints were unique in that he felt the proper study of behavior should be limited to “observable events” of behavior, and instead of how the subject might think. He consistently argued against making interpretations based on events that could not be observed. Skinner did not discuss intervening variables, such as hunger or thirst, when interpreting behavioral learning.

In 1938, B.F. Skinner published The Behavior of Organisms (New York: D. Appleton-Century Co.). Many consider this milestone work the leading authority on the science of operant conditioning. Today many dog trainers are using clickers for training canines; clickers are conditioned reinforcers that have been used by conditioning experts since the 1940’s. Skinner wrote about clickers, which he called “crickets”, in a paper called How to Teach Animals in 1951.

While on the faculty of the University of Minnesota, Skinner’s study of operant conditioning principles was expanded to include pigeons. He was studying a phenomenon known as extinction when it occurred to him to ask himself, are theories of learning necessary? As previously discussed Skinner felt the study of behavior should be limited to events that were observable and measurable. Skinner maintained that the science of behavior should actually deal with behavior in its relation to variables that could be systematically manipulated.

Skinner was a leading advocate of Expectancy Theory; it was his contention that learning theory was in reality nothing more that expectancy. He wrote, “When we assert that an animal acts in a given way because it expects to receive food [or any reinforcers], then what began as the task of accounting for a learned behavior becomes the task of accounting for expectancy.” Skinner is also partially credited for moving the science of operant conditioning beyond the lab, and towards a viable technology for changing behavior.

Fred S. Keller (1899-1966) is well known for his work on a teaching method known as Personalized System of Instruction (PSI). Keller was a classmate, and lifelong friend of B. F. Skinner. While it is true that Skinner ultimately wound up on the faculty at Harvard, where as Keller taught at Columbia, they remained colleagues throughout their lives.

In 1947, Fred Keller teamed up with William Schoenfeld (1915-1996) at Columbia University and began to teach the first college psychology course employing Skinner’s methods. Undergraduate students taught rats to respond to stimuli in order to obtain reinforcement. Keller and Schoenfeld published the first text in the emerging field of operant conditioning in 1950 entitled Principles of Psychology.

This is will be a multi-week series on the influential people in learning theory and the dawn of modern dog training. You can read about Huxley and Darwin and Pavlov, Thorndike and Watson as well.

If you have any questions or comments we would love to hear from you at live@dogdoctorradio.com

Tags: Learning Theory | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works

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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and the host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

The Adventures of Alaric Part 1

The Adventures of Alaric Part 1
By Michele Forto

At Denver Dog Works it is my job to choose, temperament test, evaluate, train, and place the dogs whose job it may be to become a cherished service dog for someone in need.

I haven’t bred or purchased any puppies in the last two years, and I had one dog still hanging out with my puppy raiser family. His name is Alaric Dracul Van Helsing and he was whelped on July 19, 2008. Alaric was placed with a puppy raiser family who had never experienced raising and training a pup they would not keep. A twelve year old girl was in charge of him and her responsibility.

Recently, a person in need contacted me, and after a few meetings and going through a few ups and downs, I decided to pull Alaric out of the puppy raisers home and try his placement with this young woman in need. It shouldn’t have been a difficult decision, but it was, you see I saw for nearly two years a special bond grow between my young puppy raiser and my young pup. I didn’t have the heart to break up the team unless I was absolutely sure that Alaric’s placement was sincere and true.
When I took Alaric to meet this young woman – they bonded almost immediately. After the lengthy interview and several visits it has been determined that Alaric has found his calling. He has been transferred from puppy raising status to full service dog training. The training is intensive. He will spend the next 12 weeks with me brushing up and learning 35 commands which are specific to the young woman’s needs. Alaric visits her weekly for a few hours so they can do trust building exercises, leadership will be established, and a friendship will be solidified.

Today was their first “bonding” session and as the weeks play out I’d like to continue the Adventures of Alaric and take my readers (you) throughout his journey in training to become a psychiatric service dog. Upon arriving Alaric stood up in the back of the van and began showing excitement, we approached her home and he waited patiently for her to open the door, once inside he cautiously checked on her beautiful birds and then returned to my side. I asked her to offer Alaric some water and led him to the kitchen where it apprehensively took a drink but then surprised me by going to her and licking her hand. Today’s bonding assignment is to work on bonding with him, leadership exercises include keeping him on leash and taking him everywhere she goes in the house today and a short walk outside for potty breaks and fresh air. The bonding session went well. It should continue to build and be successful. Alaric just like any dog will test his boundaries and see what he can get away with but I’ve left the young woman with some tips and tricks.

Tags: psychiatric service dog | Denver Dog Training Examiner | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works

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Michele Forto is Denver’s Dog Training Examiner and the business manager for Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Growing in Popularity: Therapy Dog Training

Growing In Popularity: Therapy Dogs
By Michele Forto

The inquiries into therapy dog training are on the rise. I receive countless emails, calls, and even walk-ins inquiring to the requirements for their dog to become a therapy dog. Working as a therapy team can be very rewarding – it can be very exhausting at the same time. A therapy dog provides momentary companionship, unconditional love, respect, and understanding to the individual they are spending time with in that exact moment. All while making sure their beloved owner is holding up to the stressful situation and handling it alright as well. Therapy dogs are truly guardian angels bringing light and joy into the room whenever they appear. But their job carries a heavy burden; they remove all of your worries, stress, pain, contemplation, and anger while they are with you and they tuck it away to be disposed of later. This is how a dear friend/client therapy dog mom explained her biggest concerns for her wonderful dog Mia. Mia came to me to get ready to be re-certified as a therapy dog and her mom was very concerned that Mia carried the woes of her visitors. I suggested a good walk and an ice-cream cone after her visits. Mia enjoyed her walks and her ice-cream cones immensely. No worries on weight gain she exercised for that ice-cream cone.

When I meet with people interested in training their dog to become a therapy dog – they always seem amazed when I explain that the training is a team effort. Therapy isn’t just about the dog – it’s a therapy team that is trained and taught to handle horrifically sad situations and both the human and the canine must arrive with smiles and bring joy to that person for this short moment in time. You see, your dog isn’t in the room alone, you’re right there beside him – unless you’re made of stone, you will find your emotions running away with you. It not only takes a special dog it takes a special human.

The popularity of therapy dogs is growing at a fast pace and I applaud each and every individual out there who is thinking of training their dog to do therapy. But change your way of thinking just a bit; instead of saying I’m training my dog to be a therapy dog, say we’re in training to become a therapy team. This will put you in a healthier mindset to take on this wonderful volunteering job that you are considering to undertake.

If you are interested in becoming a Therapy Team, I encourage you to visit and research as many training organizations as you can. There are many organizations to choose from who can help you reach your goals. Do not be discouraged IF the facility you’ve dreamed of volunteering with has a waiting list. Go into your training with an open mind and know that you are being trained to work with an angel (your dog) therefore it shouldn’t matter if you receive that coveted placement at Children’s Hospital, people of all ages and conditions need to be touched by an angel.

Tags: Denver Dog Training Examiner | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works | Therapy Dog Training
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Michele Forto the Denver Dog Training Examiner and is a certified canine trainer and the business manager for Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Behind the Breed: The Siberian Husky

Behind the Breed: Siberian Husky
By Michele Forto

Behind the breed is an ongoing series to assist in you choosing the right breed for yourself and family.

The Siberian Husky – Is a strong medium-sized dog that loves to work and is loyal to his family. According to the American Kennel Club; The Siberian Husky was originated by the Chukchi people of northeastern Asia as an endurance sled dog. The Siberian Husky took notice by Americans in Alaska right around 1900. The first team of Siberian Huskies made its appearance in the All-Alaska Sweepstakes Race of 1909. The All-Alaska Sweepstakes Race was a grueling 400-mile race. Charles Fox Maule Ramsey imported the Siberian Husky into Alaska and John “Iron Man” Johnson won the All-Alaska Sweepstakes Race of 1910 with this stout hearty nordic breed. In the following decade Siberian Huskies were bred and raced by Leonhard Seppala, who captured most of the racing titles in Alaska.

In 1925, the city of Nome was stricken with diphtheria, sled dog drivers in Alaska including Seppala, were called upon to deliver the antitoxin to Nome. This brought a lot of attention to Seppala and his little huskies. Seppala was invited to tour and compete in sled dog races in New England and was able to showcase the superior racing ability of his Siberian Huskies. In 1930, the American Kennel Club recognized the Siberian Husky.

Siberian Huskies have played many roles in the history of expeditions for the United States. They were on several Byrd Antarctic Expeditions as well as the Army’s Arctic Search and Rescue Unit during World War II.

The Siberian Husky is naturally friendly and gentle in temperament. He possess at times an independent nature, and although very alert, in many cases lacks the aggressive or protective tendencies of a watchdog. He is by nature fastidiously clean and free from the body odors that many dense coated breeds have. Although remarkable for his adaptability to all kinds of living conditions, his natural desire to roam makes a measure of control necessary at all times. The understanding owner will find the Siberian Husky an enjoyable companion in country or city. He has endeared himself to dog fanciers everywhere by his versatility, striking beauty, and amiable disposition.

As an owner, breeder, and musher of Siberian Huskies I have found them to be independent in their trainability but always by my side. Siberian Huskies make great companions to people who lead active lifestyles and like doing things with their pets. Huskies love to work and will pull just about anything for you. They are wonderful around children. I recommend this breed to people who are active but I also recommend this breed to people who aren’t as active. A Siberian Husky will be the best friend you ever had as long as you remember to guide him and train him well.

Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Denver Dog Training Examiner | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works | Siberian Husky | Behind the Breed
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Michele Forto is the Denver Dog Training Examiner and the business manager for Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Aggression by Michele Forto

Aggression
By Michele Forto

Aggression is defined as follows:

1 : a forceful action or procedure (as an unprovoked attack) especially when intended to dominate or master
2 : the practice of making attacks or encroachments; especially : unprovoked violation by one country of the territorial integrity of another
3 : hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior or outlook especially when caused by frustration
citation: Merriam-Webster

Aggression is defined as behavior aimed at causing harm or pain, psychological harm, or personal injury or physical distraction. An important aspect of aggressive behavior is the intention underlying the actor's behavior. Not all behaviors resulting in harm are considered aggression. For example, a doctor who makes an injection that harms people, but who did so with the intent of preventing the further spread of illness, is not considered to have committed an aggressive act.
Aggression can be direct or indirect, active or passive, and physical or verbal. Using these categories, human aggression can be grouped into eight classes of behavior:

Punching the victim (direct, active, physical)
Insulting the victim (direct, active, verbal)
Performing a practical joke, setting a booby trap (direct, passive, physical)
Spreading malicious gossip (direct, passive, verbal)
Obstructing passage, participating in a sit-in (indirect, active, physical)
Refusing to speak (indirect, active, verbal)
Refusing to perform a necessary task (indirect, passive, physical)

Direct aggression, especially physically active aggression, is more common among animals. Actors who express indirect aggression usually feel less satisfaction, but they are also less concerned about retaliation. Passive and indirect aggression is the least noxious form. Subordinates rebelling against authority figures often use it. In the family relation it is often used by children against their parents. http://social.jrank.org

The above refer to aggression as defined by humans and in human behavior. We are consulting with more and more clients who describe their dogs as being aggressive solely based on the definitions listed above. This is dangerous ground to be on. Working with your veterinarian as well as a behaviorist can reduce the labeling effects humans place onto their animals. Aggressiveness in dogs is a multi-faceted complex diagnosis.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual behavior problems in dogs and aggressive behaviors lists thirteen types of aggression as well as explanations and treatments. Simply identifying your dog with a behavioral problem such as the most common we hear of; fear aggression gives the owner and society the impression that the dog has had something terrible occur in its lifetime and therefore should be protected. When other factors play into the fear that cannot be recognized by the owner. For instance, a general lack of proper socialization at key periods in the dogs life can severely affect how that dog will react to new situations, people, and other dogs/animals. This does not automatically mean that the dog is fear aggressive.
This article is being written today to give you a bit of insight into the world of canine behavior. Dr. Robert Forto, Ph.D. is the canine behaviorist for Denver Dog Works and oversees all of our behavioral modification clients. He has written more in-depth articles regarding this subject.

Again, this article is being written to peak your interest and help you in researching proper routes of action for your dog. Always consult with a canine behaviorist and your veterinarian if you experience any signs of aggressive behavior.

Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works | Animal law | Dog Law
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Michele Forto is a certified canine trainer and the business manager for Denver Dog Works. Michele also co-hosts a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Freedom of Expression?

Freedom of Expression?
By Michele Forto

On Tuesday April 20, 2010, The United States Supreme Court rules animal cruelty video law unconstitutional. United States v. Stevens, 559 U.S. 08-769 (2010) was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled that 18 U.S.C. § 48, a federal statute criminalizing the commercial production, sale, or possession of depictions of cruelty to animals, was an unconstitutional abridgment of the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Stevens )

In 2004, Mr. Stevens was indicted for creating and selling three video tapes showing pit bulls engaged in dog fighting. Stevens filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, arguing that the federal statute abridged his right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment. The District Court denied his motion in November 2004. In January 2005, Stevens was convicted by a jury after a deliberation of 45 minutes.

Stevens appealed, and the Third Circuit vacated his conviction, holding that 18 U.S.C. 48 violated the First Amendment. The court stated that dog fighting, or the use of dogs to hunt hogs, may be made illegal to protect animals from cruelty. However the court ruled that the law in question, prohibiting the depiction of animal cruelty, violates the First Amendment, as it would create a new category of speech not protected by the free speech provision of the Amendment.

We, at Denver Dog Works, are utterly against any harmful cruel acts made upon any animal.

I am writing this opinion because animals’ are considered property; livestock. I believe the laws need to change and be applied to the 21st century. As a society we no longer view our pets as livestock or property. We view them as being members of our family.

Until our pets identities are redefined a person wanting to film a “crush video” has every right to do so under the First Amendment of the Constitution.

With all of the laws and governmental restrictions being placed onto us know do we really need to be told how to treat animals? Can’t we figure out on our own that if someone harms a defenseless animal that they should face criminal charges? Obviously, “crush videos” bring out the sickest of our society. Crushing kittens and puppies with stilettos’ is not a form of expression nor is it freedom of speech! It’s outright appalling.

I applaud the Justices for seeing the issues with the law presented to them and I am hopeful it will be challenged again in a way that will be upheld.

Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works
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Michele Forto is the business manager for Denver Dog Works. Michele is also the co-host of the weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Michele can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Therapy Dog Training

Therapy Dog Training at Denver Dog Works

Denver Dog Works has been training therapy dogs for the past decade. Our first therapy dog was Ineka. Some of you may have read the blog posts or heard us talk about Ineka. He was a natural at getting the kids we would visit in local schools to open up and ask us questions. Ineka has since retired but it is our hope that his legacy lives on within each and every therapy dog and service dog.
Recently, we have been asked to assist people in training their dog to become a therapy dog. We quickly let people know that the training involves them just as much as it does their dog. When you have therapy dog; you are a team.

At Denver Dog Works we pride ourselves on all of our training and its many benefits to our clients. But in particular we pride ourselves on the work that we devote to our service teams and our therapy teams.

Michele Forto is our lead trainer and program designer for both our service team program and our therapy team program. She is recognized as an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator; a registered service/therapy team trainer with Service Animal Registry of America, and is a Registered Service team evaluator for the Foundation for Service Dog Support.
There is a significant difference between therapy and service. The most recognizable difference is that a service dog goes everywhere with his handler. A therapy dog only goes to a prescribed, volunteered facility/location. A service dog may work for his handler up to 24 hours a day with little or no breaks. A therapy dog is only allowed to work a certain number of hours per week and only at their prescribed location. In other words, if your therapy dog accompanies you once a week to the local library and you participate in a therapy dog reading program, you as a therapy team cannot stop off at the local diner and grab a bite to eat inside at a window table.

While there are many therapy training programs and associations to choose from out there; choosing Denver Dog Works Therapy Training Program is a unique opportunity. We certify teams for psychiatrists; psychologists; therapists, and other medically related professions. In fact, Denver Dog Works is on the cutting edge of a new approach in the use of dogs in therapy sessions, assisting the doctors in the treatment of their patients which is being scientifically tested in several areas of study. But don’t let that stop you if you’re just a regular citizen looking to go into volunteering with your dog, Michele can help prepare you for registering through Denver Dog Works or any other company for that matter. Michele has also prepared teams for re-certification with other companies. Our philosophy here is simple; we believe dogs truly bring joy into people’s lives and we’d rather help that team succeed than sit by and watch it fail.

The therapy team training program at Denver Dog Works is a relatively simple process. We begin by giving your dog a temperament test to ensure that he is capable of what will be required of him. Depending on the type of therapy team you are training to become depends on the depth of obedience training as well as public access training. Denver Dog Works utilizes the AKC Canine Good Citizen test as our preliminary test. Once your dog is certified as an AKC Canine Good Citizen we begin working on public access training as well as work environment training. The entire time the team is training they are developing their work ethic. This means that they are learning how to work together and the dog especially is learning to exhibit the best possible manners in all public settings.

Becoming a Dog Works Therapy Team is hard fulfilling work. It should be noted that this type of volunteering is not for everyone. Our evaluation process is intensive so that we are able to determine that the potential team can build their work ethic and be able to maintain their work ethic at a level that will be required of them at the facility they volunteer.
If you’d like to learn more about Dog Works Therapy or Dog Works Service, please contact Michele directly at mforto@denverdogworks.com

Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works | Therapy Dog Denver
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Michele Forto is a certified canine trainer and the business manager for Denver Dog Works. Michele is also the co-host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show. Michele can be reached through our website at http://www.micheleforto.com

Game On!

Game On!
By Michele Forto

In our private basic obedience classes at Denver Dog Works we address commands such as; sit, come, stay, down, wait, and loose leash walking. These commands are outlined for you on homework sheets and you are shown how to teach your dog these commands. It’s a simple concept. After about eight weeks you are invited to try out your new skills in a group setting. Group is set up to test your new skills, your dogs’ new skills and your ability as a “team” to remain focused. Some of our students are invited to group class after just two private classes because they are already showing focus as a team.

Every once in a while we notice that our teams aren’t having fun, they have reached a plateau in their training and they are no longer having fun. This goes for the dog and their handler. That’s when we remind our handlers why they got a dog in the first place. Dogs are fun! Teaching them to be obedient is supposed to be fun too. Obedience classes can be stressful not only to your dog who is now being asked to sit when you say, but to you as well. There will be times when you ask your dog to sit and they will just flat refuse. Remember our article “Win All Games”; and choose how to win the game.

Part of our job as trainers is to teach you how to identify when your dog is no longer learning. We do this by constantly observing his behavior during play, training, and just by how they are interacting with you. Your dog will tell you when they don’t like something, tell you when they are stressed, and they will tell you when they just want to goof off. No they won’t speak it to you but they will communicate by using their body language.

Say for instance, you notice that your dog is refusing to do commands that you know full and well he is capable of performing the first time you ask. Do not become compulsive in your training style here, instead take a moment and think about the energy you are putting off, change your attitude, uplift your spirits and see if your dog reacts. If he still is refusing to perform the commands you are asking him to do then turn your training session into a game.

A simple game of come, yes come can be a game. We have spoken about fetch being a great way to teach your dog while having fun, but there are times when fetch turns into keep-away because your dog isn’t in the mood to get a ball for you.
Here’s how we do it: while on leash at first to maintain control, sit/stay your dog and then go six feet in front of him, call him to you in the happiest voice you can muster, as he approaches you give him the sit hand signal and then praise. Repeat four or five times and then begin dropping the leash and adding distance. You are in constant motion moving backwards and your dog is in constant motion moving forward. We utilize treats, toys, or just ourselves during this game. If this is not something you do with your dog often it will surprise him and he will become more receptive to doing those commands that he was refusing to do. Sit is easy, what if he is refusing to do down, no problem, when he comes to you ask him to sit and then down and then return him to sit before leaving him again.

After about ten minutes of this you and your dog will have completed a great training session that has worked on sit, down, stay, and come. Viola! It’s that easy! So we challenge you to get up off that coach and challenge your dog to a game. Game On!

Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works
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Michele Forto is a certified canine trainer and the business manager for Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Service Dogs Can't Read Your Mind

Service Dogs Can’t Read Your Mind
By Michele Forto

Reality Check: Service dogs cannot read your mind. Service dogs provide their handler's with specific "services". These "services" are performed when the handler communicates with the dog in one form or another. Communication is the key and the service dog trainer's job is to ensure that the dog is able to understand a variety of commands. Sharpen the saw: by maintaining good work ethic with your dog.

A service dog is a dog that is individually trained to perform tasks that mitigate the disability of the dog's owner.
The undertaking of training a service dog typically takes two years of constant training. Preparing a potential dog to live out his life doing “work” takes patience, perseverance, endurance, consistency and team work.

Starting in puppyhood, the selected dog, begins his training immediately learning that he is a dog surrounded by humans being asked to “work”, not just be a companion, but to provide a specific service for a person who cannot do for themselves.
There are several types of service dogs for various types of disabilities and as we discover new ways of helping people with psychological disabilities we are broadening our abilities to train “man’s best friend” to become “mans best assistant”.
A service dog is selected utilizing a series of temperament tests. Once the dog has passed these tests and has been deemed suitable for service work intensive training begins and can last up to two years. A trainer will develop training plans that grow with the dog as he grows. The trainer will spend over ten thousand hours training one dog in this two year period. It should be noted that even after all this time and all of those hours; the dog may not pass and may simply not be cut out for “work”.
In some cases, the service dog is placed with their “handler” prior to the training being completed. The dog is hand-selected by the trainer and has been placed for early placement for bonding, usually in psychological service work and in autistic service work. The need for the bond and immediate companionship can be a valuable service to the handler. But this can pose problems for the dog. Lack of training consistency and being allowed too much “dog time”, can lead to laziness and unruliness.

Rarely, a disabled person will contact a trainer with a dog that has already been selected and that has bonded well to the handler. In these cases, after the trainer has determined that the dog is temperamentally sound to work as a service dog, training can begin. These cases have a higher failure rate because the handler may not be able to give their dog up during the training period thus creating a strain and difficulty in the training regimen, length of training, and stress levels on the dog and the handler. Also, the dog can experience confusion between what is now being commanded as “work” versus previously being commanded just to perform companion style pet dog commands. The difference; when a dog is “working” they are expected to perform commands quickly and efficiently without being noticed by society.

The rate of success in training a service dog depends on many factors; ability to work and handle the stress involved physical and mental health, and being able to perform in public and not become a nuisance. Service dogs are expected to go virtually unnoticed.

In the cases where the dog was previously selected by the handler and then later trained, the trainer now has to undo all of the dog’s bad habits and incorporate new ones as well as perfect the commands the dog may already know. The family of the handler and the handler themselves are incorporated into the training regimen daily. The trainer will meet with them weekly or monthly depending on the services needed. Certain commands that may be necessary to the handler such as the dog picking up things from the floor and placing onto the lap, are very difficult to teach a dog that is over the age of nine months and will take much longer and will need consistent training done daily.

In the past, I have taken on such cases for psychiatric service work and mobility. I have learned that undertaking established dogs even IF they pass the temperament testing, public access testing, and can perform six to ten necessary and specific commands pertaining to the person’s disability many of these dogs never develop the work ethic necessary to perform their “job” consistently on a daily basis. They become more of a therapy dog that goes everywhere with the handler. Although I am not against early bonding with a dog, I am against the handler choosing the dog, raising him through puppyhood with virtually no training or the wrong training foundation has been applied and then attempting to train and prepare this nearly two year old dog as a service dog.

At Dog Works, I have developed a program that is successful in the training and placement of service dogs. I choose the puppy, begin training immediately, and when the pup is about six months of age a potential handler is chosen for the puppy and weekly lessons begin while the puppy remains under my care and control. By the time the puppy is eighteen months of age they will be living with their handler full time and working as a service dog in training with their handler. I have found that training the handler for nine months or longer helps to seal that necessary bond and build trust between both the handler and the dog.

If you are looking for a service dog for yourself or a loved one, please contact a professional such as myself prior to running out there and getting that puppy that you think you’ll have the time and wherewithal to train yourself. Service dogs are large investments and yes it may be more cost effective for you to do it yourself but don’t let the industry keep you from asking questions. Dog Works Service Dogs can be trained for your needs with you alongside for the majority of the training. It’s all about the end result and finding the best way to get there. If I get you thinking about anything please remember that with any training it takes consistency.

Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works
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Michele Forto is the business manager for Dog Works Training Center and is the co-host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Dogs Need Heroes Too

Dogs Need Heroes Too
By Michele Forto

"I had seven dogs who would go to the end of the earth for me, and nine more who would try," Lance Mackey, 4-time Iditarod Champion

When I was a kid superheroes were still popular. I remember being seven years old and not just dressing up as Wonder Woman for Halloween but wishing I had that invisible airplane of hers to travel around in.

My kids generation, being born in the nineties, I can’t recall them actually having superheroes to look up to. That was the time of sport heroes. We all know and can understand when we place the burden of being a superhero onto a regular person who just happens to be able to “fly” on the basketball court that it sets that person up to quite a bit of scrutiny.

It’s refreshing to read stories about the Iditarod in its 38th year and listen to the passion in the voices of the men and women as they talk about their dogs and the Last Great Race. I myself turn 38 years old this year and I’m always saddened to realize that I didn’t know that the Iditarod was even a race until about 18 years ago. Growing up in California it wasn’t taught in the schools. Sure I saw the movie Iron Will and read the stories about Balto. I knew of the Great Serum Run and the significance that it had on the State of Alaska, but other than that it seemed like fiction to me.

When I met my husband Robert, within four months he had my eight year old son Kyle, and myself on the back of a dog sled, the cool wind in our faces, holding on for dear life. I remember feeling very afraid, “where are these dogs going to take me!” After my first run and losing my team, I realized it wasn’t about the dogs it was about the musher. I had to learn to trust my dogs, especially my leader, and work with them as a team.

This realization came together for me on a very bad six mile run on Casper Mountain in Wyoming. I was running a new lead dog, her first race with me, a dog just 10-weeks postpartum, and four yearlings in their first race. There was a terrible snow storm that blew out the trails; visibility was zero in places and the other mushers where too far ahead of me to be of any guidance. At one point I stopped my team to adjust their harnesses, the snow on the trail was about 8 inches deep and there was a steep hill ahead of us. I got to my leaders, Moon, my newest dog, and Tamaya, a great dog who ran for my three year old daughter, I told my girls to take us home. I set us back on the trail and we headed out with me dredging through the thick wet snow with my girls digging in and tugging hard. We finally arrived at the finish line with my husband and two other people that were mushing our dogs and my three kids, everyone happy to see me. I was happy to see them too, but I was proudest of my dogs, the seven of us learned how to be a team.

You see the Iditarod and all the dog sled races out there are just there as a way for the musher to pay back to his team, it’s their reward for being heroes along the way. The dogs will let you yell, cry, laugh, and joke around, they won’t ever judge you and IF you can let yourself go you will find the hero within you.

I have a poster up in my training center of Iditarod champion Doug Swingley it simply says “Dog’s Need Heroes Too”. I know I was a hero to my dogs that day and they know they were my heroes.

Tags: Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works
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Michele Forto is the business manager and lead trainer at Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Chilpa

Chilpa
By Michele Forto

A few weeks ago I met a couple and conducted an evaluation on their dog. Victor was very concerned about his beloved german shepherd dog Chilpa. Chilpa had attacked the neighbors dog unprovoked and even though he swiftly paid the veterinarian bills and the neighbor did not contact animal control, Victor being a long time german shepherd owner, decided that he had better contact a trainer.

As I waited to meet Victor and Chilpa, I was excited to meet another german shepherd owner, I was also concerned about the description of the aggression Victor stated that Chilpa was displaying. The time of the evaluation came and went and it was now 15 minutes after the appointment was to take place. I called Victor and asked if he’d like to reschedule, he apologized and mentioned that he had forgotten our appointment and was not able to make it in this day. We rescheduled our appointment for the weekend.

To my surprise Victor, his wife Shirley, and Chilpa kept their appointment and showed up on time. Also to my surprise was Victor and Shirley an elderly couple with a young german shepherd. The evaluation was performed and it was determined that Chilpa has fear aggression. I developed a training plan for Chilpa and explained to Victor my concerns and strategies to help Chilpa get healthy.

Our first training session was the following Monday. I got to Victor’s house, he had told me during the evaluation that he is 92 years old, he met me at the door and said, “what’s the plan?” I explained that I would like to see Chilpa’s environment both inside their home and in their neighborhood. He proceeded to show me around and took me out back where I saw 9 prairie dogs and the neighbor whose dog was attacked. I also saw the little poodle who immediately began barking aggressively at Chilpa who paid him no mind. During the evaluation I had determined by using another dog that Chilpa is fearful to the point of physically shaking when other dogs are around. She has high defensive fight drives and uses this drive to ward off potential attacks from other dogs. Victor then suggested he walk with me around the neighborhood. I tried to be polite and let him know that I could take Chilpa alone, but he insisted. For 92 I’ve got to say I only hope I’m able to still drive my black Cadillac and walk two or three blocks with my dog! During our walk I asked Victor if I could bring Chilpa to my training center on Saturdays as the situation here at his home and in his neighborhood was not conducive to the training I needed to do with Chilpa. He agreed. He then stopped me and complimented me on my passion and genuine attitude toward him and his dog. He then said, “Michele, I’m 92 years old and I’m not going to live forever, I adopted Chilpa for my wife, her health is not good. My son cannot take Chilpa when I die and the retirement village won’t let Shirley keep her either. I need to ask if you would take her and if you would what would you do?” It took me a moment to answer honestly I was floored by what he just asked me to do. I had only known him for 4 days. I placed my hand on his shoulder and reminded Chilpa to sit, and told him that I would be proud to take his dog, that I couldn’t guarantee but I would try to train her for service work or I’d keep her myself for the rest of her life. I promised to always be here to care for her whenever he needed.

Chilpa’s first Saturday of training at the training center started off hectic. I brought her in and she barked at every camp dog staying with us. Nicole and I put her in a crate and proceeded to get things done that morning. We then went back to the van to get Nicole’s dog Qyain. Qyain would be our test dog with Chilpa today. We always just let Qyain loose in the training center because he gets along with all of the dogs and stays out of the way, for the most part. He is a 2 year old german shepherd so staying out of the way is relative! Of course, he found Chilpa in a crate in the office and he immediately went up to the crate and tried licking her face. Chilpa went off barking and lunging. I went and sat next her and called Qyain back over, this time she barked and growled but stopped when I told her to sit. Nicole then put a leash on Qyain and I leashed Chilpa and we got to work with them in the same room moving around the floor performing commands. Chilpa was shaking but as we went along she got calmer. Eventually she showed interest in Qyain so leaving the leashes on Nicole and I let them greet while we let the leashes go. Qyain is very balanced he chased her around and smelled her, licked her face, and tried to get her to play. Chilpa allowed this until Qyain cornered himself and he turned to run away and she attacked him. Nicole said nothing, and I only said Chilpa leave it. She stopped and Qyain began playing again with her and all was fine. They played throughout the day.

The following Monday I brought Qyain to Victor’s house to show him how well Chilpa and him got along. They did well in his backyard and on their walk. Victor was very pleased and I explained to him that this was just one dog and he’s an intact male of the same breed. That I have a lot of work ahead of me with other breeds. He understood.

Saturday training number 2, as I got ready to train Chilpa on leash around other dogs, I took her outside to use the bathroom. I noticed blood droplets, I checked her out, pads, tongue, nose and couldn’t find where she was bleeding. Then she lifted her tail and I saw it, she was in heat! But how could that be? Victor rescued her and he told me she was spayed. No training today, I had to find out what was wrong.

Victor and I decided to have me take Chilpa to my vet and get her checked out. Today, we found out from the first test that it appears that Chilpa was not spayed. We have three concerns here; not spayed, spayed partially and infection set in, a few months ago had a biopsy done on her kidney by Banfield and the records are inconclusive as to what they found or why they performed surgery.

We are awaiting additional blood work and Chilpa is off of the training routine until we find out what is going on with her health.

I decided to write this article today to remind everyone out there that taking your dog to a veterinarian and giving them the best possible care you can is the right thing to do. When you take your pet to a veterinarian no matter if they run their own private practice or you visit them at a big box corporate store, you have the right to get a second opinion if you feel that procedures are being done unnecessarily on your pet.

Also, when you get your pet spayed or neutered or the procedure was done before you rescued your dog, you need to be aware that the surgery may not have been successful. Our dog Ineka is a 12 year old male Siberian Husky who came to us neutered. We later discovered that his neuter was not complete, Ineka made us a great litter of pups for my racing team in 2001. My vet explained that in females if the vet performing the surgery did her incision high on the chest that they can’t always get deep enough to get the entire uterus out so a piece is left. Usually its fine, but there can be complications with infection and “false heat cycles”.

Your veterinarian can perform blood tests and other tests to determine if your spay or neuter is complete. There is usually no concern, but if you notice especially in your female dog any discharge, bloody, mucous, and/or foul odor get her to the vet immediately.

Chilpa does not appear to have an infection but we will know from her blood work in a few days. For now she is at home with Victor and Shirley lounging around and loving her life.

Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Dog Training Denver | Colorado Dog Training |Denver Dog Works |Dog Works Training Centers| Forto | Team Ineka | #dogs #denver #dogtraining
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Michele Forto is the business manager and lead obedience trainer at Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Have You Hugged Your Dog Today?

Hug Your Dog Today
By Michele Forto

I know Robert has shared stories about our beloved dog, Ineka, but the other day he did something that filled my heart with joy and I wanted to take a moment and share it with you.

Ineka is approximately twelve years old. I remember picking him up from DIA ten years ago this very month. I was excited, oh we had several Siberians that we had rescued and were planning to race, but this was different, this would be the first dog we’d be rescuing sight unseen. We rescued Ineka from Washington and he was flown to us with a description of being white with blue eyes. Well he was black and white as it turned out and slightly older than we had been told. No worries though he quickly proved his worth as a working dog and as a companion.

Ineka quickly earned his place in our home. You see racing kennels rarely allow their dogs to come inside, mostly because they are not house trained. Ineka however, was very respectful of the house.

He has a ritual in the morning, come to my side of the bed and rub his nose and face on my shoulder. Some mornings that nose is way too cold! This was how he would wake me up to start the day. The two of us would then go get the kids up and get them ready for the day. Once Kyle and Tyler were off to school, Nicole, Ineka and I would head out to the kennel to start our day of cleaning, grooming, and training. Ineka would prance around full plume tail talking to the other dogs as I opened their kennels one by one letting all thirty dogs out to play. Ineka would stick to Nicole’s side and ward off the younger dogs who liked to jump on her. Ineka quickly earned a nickname; Sergeant! I truly had the best co-worker, nanny, and best friend in the world.

Ineka was retired from racing in 2002. He has had an active retirement teaching puppies boundaries and bouncing around our training school. About a year ago he stopped waking me up and no longer showed interest in “going to work”. He is in his autumn. He can barely get around the house now although there are days when he will try to chase down our dog Qyain and then gallop up the stairs and then gallop down just to jump from the sixth step! He’s a spunky old guy. The other morning he woke me up the way he used to giving me a hug and not letting go. I was lucky that morning because I was able to sit still and enjoy this moment that my old friend was sharing with me.

Yesterday I came home to gather up some supplies for work, Ineka was at the top of the stairs where he always is greeting us when we come home. I said hello to him and left the front door open so he could go out to our courtyard. I went about my business and then headed into the kitchen to grab a drink, I heard Ineka jump off the stairs and head out the front door. I got sidetracked and didn’t immediately follow him out. About three minutes later I walked into our office and noticed the gate was open! My heart sunk. I immediately ran outside thinking “he’s next door marking the bush” nope! Oh God! Robert is leaving and after 10 years I’ve lost the dog! I ran down the street a neighbor was outside I asked if he saw my black dog he said no. I ran back to the house to jump in my van and realized my keys were inside. I run inside into the kitchen but as I’m running past I catch a glimpse of Ineka at the top of the stairs looking down at me like I’ve lost my mind. I scolded him like I did my kids when they ran out into the street. Gave him a hug and a piece of cheese and said don’t ever scare me like that again; we aren’t ready for you to go yet. I still need my best friend.

I have had many dogs in my lifetime and I’m sure I will have many more. Each has held a special place in my heart. But as I’m sure you can relate, there’s always one that came into your life and helped you through triumphs and tribulations. Who came over and let you hold them until all the tears were cried out. Who encouraged you to get your butt off the couch. Who helped you remember how to be a kid. It’s that dog that makes you a better person. Hug your dog today, whisper in their ear and thank them for taking care of you.
Tags: Denver Dog Works | Dog Training Denver | Ineka | Michele Forto | Robert Forto | Colorado Dog Trainer | Dog Doctor Radio
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Michele Forto is the business manager for Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Help! I Need a Dog Trainer

Help! I need a Dog Trainer
By Michele Forto

Congratulations! You have decided to train your dog. But you are puzzled by the amount of choices and the differences each website portrays about each canine trainer. This particular blog entry is being written to help you decipher the professionalism you are looking for.
Each website has a plethora of information which is helpful but can become washed out.
Make a list of what goals you have in mind for you and your dog. Then as you are browsing each website, narrow them down by the sites that are able to answer most of your questions and keep your goals in mind.

Get your dog an evaluation. If the trainer does not offer evaluations then move on. Some trainers are beginning to charge for their evaluations; this fee is typically taken off of your package price if you sign up and pay in full. Keep in mind that you are hiring someone who is paid for their time and there are no industry standards or guidelines as to what each trainer can charge for their hourly rate. In the end, you are paying for their expertise whatever that may be.

You watch the dog training shows, and you’ve read the books, maybe you’ve even taken a webinar and you’re ready to train your dog yourself. That’s great. One thing all of those resources fail to tell you is that undertaking the training solely on your own requires a large amount of your time being spent doing nothing but training. Training requires consistency and repetition. I have found my training to be the most successful by following a training formula for 21 straight days. I start with puppy basic obedience then I move up to basic obedience, take into consideration that during adolescence my dog is not going to learn as quickly as he did while he was a puppy. The resources I listed above do not teach you how to understand dog learning theory or behavior. Some trainers possess this knowledge but not all trainers.

Your dog will go through specific learning stages and it is imperative that during each stage you expose your dog appropriately to socialization with people, dogs, and other animals as well as inanimate objects. If you have decided on a puppy it’s a bit easier than if you have rescued an older dog.

Let’s say you adopted a six month old dog he is still young and impressionable. Well not really, he’s had six months to learn a lot of bad habits regarding behavior. His social development has been damaged and you discover that you’re having trouble getting him to listen to commands. This is not just because you rescued a six month old dog, this is also because you have adopted an adolescent dog.

As a trainer I always recommend to my clients who have rescued or adopted a dog of any age to seek out a professional trainer or even a canine behaviorist. I want to see the relationship develop and to see the dog become healthy socially and mentally.

Even if you decide to do the training on your own it is still worth getting an evaluation for yourself and your dog, even if the trainer charges for that evaluation it will be a worthwhile investment. You will get to hear a professional’s opinion regarding your dog and you may receive their training plan which can help you whether you train on your own or make the better choice and hire the trainer to assist you along the way.

Canine training is fast becoming a new recognized certification/vocational job in the United States. As of today there are no formal guidelines nor is there any formal licensing to become a dog trainer. We have general standards that we follow and associations that we belong to in order to continue our education.

As you are browsing the websites and you have narrowed it down to two or three prospective trainers take the time to write down some questions to ask them during your evaluation. Here is a list of questions that should be asked;

How long have you been training?
What methodology do you use in your training style?
What training do you specialize in?
Additional questions will arise during the evaluation and possibly from the trainer’s website. Remember that there are dozens of trainers available to you from many different training styles. Be informed, if the web searches confuse you, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation on a trainer(s).
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Michele Forto is the business manager and a certified canine trainer at Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Who Are You? Dr. Robert Forto

Who Are You, and What Makes You Special, Anyway? Dr. Robert Forto, PhD
By Michele Forto

We are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and they have one of the best dog training journals around, especially for us in the canine training industry, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog. Each month in their highly acclaimed magazine, they have a member profile edited by Nicole Wilde. While we haven't been privy to be showcased in this column yet, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase each one of our trainers over the next few weeks so that you can get to know us and what we are about.

This week I will be interviewing Dr. Robert Forto, PhD....

Lets get to know Dr. Robert Forto, PhD....

Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: rforto@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years in Business: 3 1/2 in Denver, 19 years as a canine obedience instructor and behaviorist
Personal Training Philosophy: Know Yourself. Know Your Dog.

Our training philosophy at Denver Dog Works is not a procedure but a lifestyle.

I have learned in the nineteen years of literally living with a pack of dogs and on the sled dog trail that it has offered me a unique perspective. There I was forced to examine my attitude about everything including my dogs. I was constantly challenged to become more open to the language dogs use to communicate with us. This experience confirms our deepest intuitions about the relationship of human beings not only with their dog but every aspect of their lives.

I hope to foster my clients with a diverse and varied understanding of the environment for which they live. I hope to foster a more realistic understanding of their dogs and an increased awareness of the benefits of their companionship.

Drawing on my experience as a kennel owner of many Siberian Huskies I will teach my clients how dog training goes far beyond the elementary instruction of basic obedience; as it must encompass a whole new attitude and lifestyle with their dog. It must touch on the levels of a dog’s own life that are often ignored.

I will bring my client into the world of a dog musher, canine behaviorist, and father of three by using my experience as a lens through which they may broaden their understanding of their dog. The stage will then be set for a balanced, lasting relationship between them and their best friend.

How long have you been in business and what types of services do you provide?

I have been training professionally since the summer of 1994 when I attended my first “certification” course. Also in 1994 I started my Siberian Husky sled dog kennel in Duluth, Minnesota on my hobby farm. I began training clients dogs in local parks in a Canine Good Citizen-type training program and offering in-kennel board and train programs for clients. In 2000, I went back to school to earn my doctorate and began research on human-canine communication in the sport of dog sledding and I took a hiatus from dog training for clients. In 2006, my family and I moved to Denver, Colorado and I sought employment as a canine trainer. I sent out three resumes and one person called me back. I interviewed for the job and gave him a stack of certificates and degrees and the owner of the school said, “I don’t care about paper, I want to see how you train dogs.”

I went back into his kennel and got a dog and took it to the training room and showed the owner how I could work the dog through an obedience routine. He hired me the next day and shortly thereafter offered me the training school to lease. In January 2007, we opened Denver Dog Works at that location and have been training in Denver ever since.

How did you get started?

As I stated before, I have been training dogs since the 90’s in competition obedience and conformation with Siberian Huskies, thought by some to be the toughest breed to train, but my work with canines really started to take off when I moved to Minnesota. I literally lived with a pack of 35 sled dogs 24-hours a day. We ran teams all night on the snowmobile trails in the Superior National Forest and then I would come back and take care of the dogs and interact with them and study their behavior. While there is much to be said about pack based training theory today, I learned so much about those dogs that I became an expert in canine body language and communication. In 1997, I was given the opportunity to attend a wolf migration study in Alaska and we conducted research by dog sled and helicopter. That was when they still used radio collars on the wolves and antenna, unlike today where they track them via GPS. I worked on that study for 17 months before returning home to run my sled dog teams for sport. I learned so much about the two species and how to compare and contrast the two. Shortly after my return, I was thirty for knowledge and began to read every book I could get my hands on and took several courses in canine training and behavior. I started to attend seminars and lectures and took exams to become a certified canine trainer.

Are you involved in and dog sports or activities?

I am heavily involved in canine sports. I have several clients that I am working with right now in conformation classes and competition obedience. I am a professional musher and in training for my first Iditarod in 2013. I plan on running a pure-breed Siberian Husky team under the Team Ineka banner.

How do you get business, and what is your relationship like with veterinarians in your community?

Most of our business comes from referrals, our website, Denver Dog Works, and word of mouth. Denver Dog Works is sought after often as a last resort for dog owners who have tried other training schools and failed for one reason or another. There is a veterinary office right next door to our training center and we receive a lot of referrals and “foot traffic” from there. I am sought out often for canine aggression cases and behavior modification. We take full advantage of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Ustream, YouTube and others. Of course, we do offer a lot of canine sports and working dog programs as well.

Do you belong to a trainer networking group, or otherwise consult with/refer to other trainers in your area?

I belong to several trainer associations and clubs throughout North America. I have found that a lot of trainers in Denver do not refer clients to each other. I don't know why. I speak to a lot of people though networking events at the Chamber of Commerce and I host a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show where we discuss everything that is related to dogs.

What do you believe are the three most important things to teach a dog?

Loose leash walking, Come (recall) and manners. As I tell my clients all the time, a dog that does not know how to walk on a loose leash is the first candidate for a shelter. Why? because if the relationship between owner and dog is strained on walks (pardon the pun), the owner does not want to interact with the dog, hence that equals lack of exercise, which equals destructiveness. In regards to the recall command, I tell my clients, “who cares if your dog will sit and down on command in your living room, if he won’t come to you at the park, you will have a big problem.”

What types of cases do you find the most challenging and why?

I find dispelling the myths that people have about their dogs the most challenging. I routinely talk about canine evolution and anthropomorphism and how proper relationships should be formed with our canine companions.

What advice would you give to other trainers about working with dogs and their owners?

Patience. Just one word, Patience.

Can you offer a specific tip or trick for working with dogs or owners that other trainers might find helpful?

Take the time to listen to your clients and encourage them to think outside the box about their dog and their training goals. Also, turn off the T.V. and get out and do something with your dog and that will teach them more about their canine companions than any book or T.V. dog training show.

What was your scariest moment with a dog (or client)?

I have been known to say that I have been bit by the best and trained the rest. In all honesty I have never had a scary moment with a dog but witnessing my wife being attacked by a Dutch Shepherd that we had in training scared me to death. You can read her story about that by clicking here.

What would you say are the top three things you have personally learned as a trainer?

1. Patience. 2. dogs make better clients than people, 3. and that fear and punishment is the least effective way to get a dog to do what you want.

What was the last training related seminar you attended?

I conducted the last seminar I attended and that was about the misconceptions people have about how dogs behave in dog parks. I was the featured speaker at a conference with several HOA’s and the city of Denver when it was up for debate on whether Denver should add more dog parks.

Are there any specific books, authors, DVDs that have influenced you as a trainer?

I have read so many books on canine training, behavior, evolution and origin that I cant list them all. Some of the most influential have been the books written by the Monks of New Skeete, the book Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution. the three book series by (Lindsey) Darwin’s Origin of the Species, Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog, many courses in psychology an learning theory, hundreds of business books and articles, countless hours of research for my dissertation and the thousands of miles on the back of a dog sled and in my kennel have been my greatest teacher.

Anything else you would like to add?

In my opinion,our relationship with our dogs is our greatest gift. I say that not only as a dog trainer and a business owner, but also as a father of three teenagers. Our dogs have taught us so much about life. My work with canines is dedicated to my friends of friends “Ineka and Rutgrr” who have taught me the definition of unconditional love. In addition, to all other sled dog pups that have unselfishly provided comfort, compassion, and unparalleled commitment to humans. This dedication is generally without measure of our right to such gifts or of our own commitment to reciprocate.
It is this affection that has given me the ability to survive, with relative sanity, in an often difficult world. The power of this unconditional love has been the inspiration for this dissertation and the project that produced it. May this project bring power to those who want to chase their dreams. May this project also give us a better appreciation for those creatures with which we share the earth.


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Michele Forto is the business manager and a trainer for Dog Works Training Centers and the co-host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show that can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West and downloaded anytime. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com